- Top Pick: Lexar 2TB NM790 NVMe SSD w/Heatsink, 7400/6500 MB/s, M.2 2280, PCIe Gen 4×4 | Compatible w/ PS5, Gamers & Content Creators, PC & Laptops, SLC Cache, Single-Sided Design, LNM790X002T-RN9NU
- Best Value: SIX NVME M.2 SSD PCIe 4.0-1TB m.2 2280 ssd, Read UP to 7350MB/s 1TB for Gaming PS5 Memory Storage Expansion with Heatsink, Internal Solid State Hard Drive PCIe gen 4×4 Nvme for Laptop Desktop pc
- Premium Choice: fanxiang 1TB NVMe Internal Gaming SSD for PS5 with Heatsink, Up to 7000MB/s M.2 SSD PCIe Gen 4 SSD Storage Expansion Compatible with PS5, Internal Solid State Drive for Gamers, Professionals, Creators
The PlayStation 5 ships with limited internal storage, and a few large downloads can fill it before the weekend is over. The M.2 expansion slot is the cleanest fix, but it is not a plug-in-anything bay. Sony’s guidance calls for a PCIe Gen4 x4 NVMe drive in the M.2 2280 format, a sequential read speed of around 5,500 MB/s or better, and effective cooling through a heatsink. That narrows a crowded field quickly, and it explains why almost every drive below says “with heatsink” in its title.
This guide is for console owners who want more room for installed games without moving to an external drive, and for people who may later reuse the same drive in a laptop or desktop. In 2026 the real decision is capacity and cooling rather than raw speed, since most Gen4 drives clear the console’s requirement with room to spare. Details come only from the listing titles, so double-check the clearance and the drive’s heatsink height against the console’s expansion bay before installing.
Quick Picks
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| Product | Best for | Key spec from the title |
|---|---|---|
| Lexar 2TB NM790 | Large library, balanced pick | 7400/6500 MB/s, heatsink, 2TB |
| SIX NVME M.2 1TB | Entry-level 1TB with cooling | Up to 7350MB/s, heatsink, PCIe 4.0 |
| fanxiang 1TB (7000MB/s) | Straightforward 1TB upgrade | Up to 7000MB/s, heatsink |
| fanxiang 2TB | Mid-size library | Up to 7100MB/s, heatsink, 2TB |
| Fanxiang S690Q 1TB | Light use, shared with a PC | Up to 4800 MB/s, 3D NAND, SLC cache |
| Acer Predator GM7 1TB | Reusing in a PC later | NVMe 2.0, up to 7400 MB/s |
| Lexar 4TB NM790 | Biggest library | 7400/6500 MB/s, heatsink, 4TB |
| Samsung 990 PRO 1TB | Brand-focused 1TB | Up to 7,450MB/s, heatsink |
| Lexar 1TB NM790 | Starter capacity | 7400/6500 MB/s, heatsink, 1TB |
| Samsung 990 PRO 2TB | 2TB with a major brand | Up to 7,450MB/s, heatsink, 2TB |
How to Choose
Hit the speed floor, then stop worrying about the ceiling
The console wants roughly 5,500 MB/s of sequential read. Nine of the ten drives list 7000 MB/s or more, which clears that bar. The Fanxiang S690Q lists up to 4800 MB/s, below that guidance, so it deserves caution. Speeds above the floor mostly show up in synthetic numbers rather than shorter load screens, so there is little reason to rank drives by the last few hundred MB/s. Treat a clear pass of the floor as the goal and let capacity and cooling decide the rest.
Get the heatsink question settled
A heatsink is needed because the drive runs hot inside the closed slot. Eight listings say heatsink in the title; the Acer Predator GM7 and the Fanxiang S690Q do not. Either buy a compatible separate heatsink or pick a drive that already ships with one. Remember that the console’s bay limits height, so a thick aftermarket cooler can stop the cover from closing.
Choose a capacity that matches your library
One terabyte holds a handful of large modern releases, 2TB gives breathing room for rotating titles, and 4TB suits players who keep everything installed. The console accepts capacities up to 8TB, so the 4TB Lexar sits comfortably inside the range. Think about how many games you reinstall each month, because redownloading large titles is the real inconvenience of small drives. A rough rule is to count the games you play in a season and add room for patches and updates, which can grow an install well beyond its first download.
Format, controller details, and what to ignore
Stick to M.2 2280, PCIe Gen4 x4, and NVMe. Single-sided designs, mentioned on the Lexar listings, keep the board slim, which helps with clearance. Marketing about content creators or laptops is irrelevant to the console. Budget models can cut corners on write sustain, cache size, and the heatsink fit, so a drive with unclear cooling details is a bigger risk than one with a slightly lower peak speed.
The 10 Best Options
Lexar 2TB NM790
The title lists 7400/6500 MB/s speeds, an included heatsink, M.2 2280, PCIe Gen 4×4, PS5 compatibility, an SLC cache, and a single-sided design. It suits owners who want a large library with cooling already sorted.
- Strength: Read and write speeds both stated, with a heatsink included.
- Strength: 2TB gives space for many installed titles.
- Trade-off: Other capacities in the same line may fit your plans better.
Skip it if you only need a small upgrade or would rather spread capacity across two smaller steps later; this size makes most sense when you want to settle the storage question once.
SIX NVME M.2 SSD 1TB
A 1TB PCIe 4.0 drive listing reads up to 7350MB/s and a heatsink for PS5 expansion, also aimed at laptops and desktops. It is an entry-level choice for a first upgrade.
- Strength: The 7350MB/s read figure clears the console’s guidance.
- Strength: Heatsink included in the listing.
- Trade-off: The title gives only the read speed, with no write figure.
Skip it if you want both read and write numbers before buying, because the sustained-write picture is left to the maker’s own documentation.
fanxiang 1TB NVMe (7000MB/s)
This 1TB PCIe Gen 4 drive lists up to 7000MB/s, a heatsink, and PS5 compatibility. It targets a simple, no-fuss expansion for a console owner.
- Strength: Heatsink and PS5 compatibility stated up front.
- Strength: A 7000MB/s figure comfortably exceeds the floor.
- Trade-off: Only 1TB, which fills with a few large games.
Skip it if your library is already large, since the internal drive plus this one may still leave you juggling installs.
fanxiang 2TB NVMe
The same brand’s 2TB step lists up to 7100MB/s, a heatsink, and PS5 expansion use. It is the natural pick when 1TB feels cramped.
- Strength: 2TB capacity with a heatsink included.
- Strength: A slightly higher 7100MB/s figure than the 1TB model.
- Trade-off: The title lacks write-speed details.
Skip it if you want a more established brand name or a stated write figure on the listing.
Fanxiang S690Q 1TB
This one lists PCIe Gen4, M.2, 3D NAND with an SLC cache, and up to 4800 MB/s. The title mentions PS5 use and also PC and laptops.
- Strength: 3D NAND and an SLC cache are named.
- Strength: Suits a shared drive that moves between devices.
- Trade-off: 4800 MB/s sits below the 5,500 MB/s the console guidance suggests, and no heatsink is named.
Skip it if you want to meet the console’s stated requirement, which is the whole point of buying a drive for it.
Acer Predator GM7 1TB
A 1TB M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 4 x4 drive with NVMe 2.0 and reads up to 7400 MB/s, positioned for laptops, desktops, and PS5.
- Strength: NVMe 2.0 and a 7400 MB/s read figure.
- Strength: Recognizable brand with a model number listed.
- Trade-off: The title does not mention a heatsink, so cooling must be added.
Skip it if you want a drive that arrives ready for the console, because the extra heatsink adds a purchase and a height check.
Lexar 4TB NM790
The top-capacity option, with the same 7400/6500 MB/s speeds, heatsink, and single-sided design as its smaller siblings. It is for players who never want to delete a game.
- Strength: 4TB holds a very large library.
- Strength: Heatsink and both speed figures are listed.
- Trade-off: More capacity than most players will fill.
Skip it if 1TB or 2TB would suffice, since unused space is capacity you could have left to a smaller drive.
Samsung SSD 990 PRO with Heatsink 1TB
The title lists up to 7,450MB/s, an included heatsink, and a PS5 expansion focus, with model code MZ-V9P1T0CW. It is the brand-led choice at 1TB.
- Strength: The highest read figure of the group at 7,450MB/s.
- Strength: Heatsink included and PS5 use stated.
- Trade-off: 1TB is a modest capacity for a console library.
Skip it if capacity matters more than brand, because the same family offers larger steps.
Lexar 1TB NM790
The smallest of the NM790 line lists the same 7400/6500 MB/s speeds and heatsink as the larger models. It is a starter capacity from a consistent family.
- Strength: Both read and write speeds are stated.
- Strength: A heatsink and single-sided design help with fit.
- Trade-off: 1TB fills quickly on a console.
Skip it if you already own many large games and expect your library to keep growing through the year.
Samsung 990 PRO 2TB
This 2TB PCIe Gen4 M.2 2280 drive lists up to 7,450MB/s, an included heatsink, and PS5 use, with model MZ-V9P2T0CW. It targets players who want a well-known name and generous space.
- Strength: 2TB plus the group’s top read figure.
- Strength: Heatsink included for console use.
- Trade-off: The title does not mention write speed.
Skip it if a different brand better suits your plans or you need a 4TB step in the same family.
Which One Fits Your Situation
You want to install and forget
The Samsung 990 PRO 2TB or the Lexar 2TB NM790 gives heatsink-equipped, console-ready capacity. Both clear the speed floor, and both list a heatsink, so the only remaining step is physical installation.
You keep dozens of games installed
The Lexar 4TB NM790 is the answer, as it holds the largest library in this list. Players who buy several big releases each season and hate deleting saves or installs will feel the difference most.
You want a drive that can move to a PC later
The Acer Predator GM7 1TB mentions laptops, desktops, and the console, though you need to add a heatsink for the PS5. The Fanxiang S690Q also moves between devices but sits below the speed guidance.
You want a first upgrade with minimal fuss
The fanxiang 1TB or the Lexar 1TB NM790 provides a heatsink and the required speed at the smallest sensible capacity.
Common Mistakes
- Buying a drive without a heatsink and assuming the console will cool it well enough.
- Choosing a drive below the 5,500 MB/s guidance because it lists PS5 in the title.
- Picking a thick aftermarket cooler that prevents the expansion cover from closing.
- Assuming 1TB is enough, then spending weeks deleting games to make room.
- Ignoring the format, since only M.2 2280 NVMe drives belong in this slot and SATA M.2 models will not work for expansion.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a heatsink for a PS5 SSD?
Yes, cooling is required, either built in or added. Several listings here include one, while others expect you to supply it. Always confirm which case applies before the drive arrives.
Is a faster drive worth chasing?
Once a drive clears the console’s roughly 5,500 MB/s guidance, extra speed brings little everyday change. Capacity and cooling usually matter more.
Can I use the same drive in a PC?
Many titles mention laptops and desktops, so reuse is possible. Check the heatsink height against your motherboard cover before moving it.
How big can the drive be?
The console guidance covers capacities up to 8TB, so every drive listed here, up to 4TB, falls within range. Larger drives simply give you more room before you need to uninstall anything, which is the main reason to step up.
